The answer is…a COOKING CLASS. Learning to cook in another country is an amazing way to gain an insider view of the location. The classes are taught by locals who educate you (in a fun way) about the types of foods that are prevalent in that country, eating etiquette and a whole bunch of other stuff indirectly (like culture, language and history). What can I say? Food brings people together.
During my trip to Thailand, I spent $50 and cooked (and ate) a three-course meal at Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts (SITCA). The class was recommended on Trip Advisor, and was right in downtown Chaweng on the island of Koh Samui. We learned a ton and got to keep a book of recipes.
What we made (and, ultimately…ate):
- Homemade yellow Curry paste
- Yellow Curry with Chicken
- Glass noodle soup with soft tofu (my fave)
- Deep fried fish with turmeric
The class was three hours long, but it felt like 30 minutes by the end of it. Plus, it was my favorite meal in all of Thailand – yes, even better than all the street food. I CAN’T BELIEVE I EVEN SAID THAT, OMGZ.
We also learned a ton about the produce of Thailand. Ok that sentence sounds super boring…but I think it’s so cool to be mind-blown by what is considered incredibly normal. We heard about galangal (a version of ginger), Thai basil, kaffir lime leaves and a bunch of other items that just screamed Thai Flavors to me. It was like…mystery solved.
Hot peppers were a conundrum while I was visiting Thailand…I usually stayed away from them so as not to make a major scene in public if I got a really hot one by accident, but our chef, Rose, let us in on a trick. The general rule is that the small red peppers are hotter than small green peppers, and big green peppers are hotter than big red peppers. #TheMoreYouKnow
I want to do this whole class again. I wish I did one in Bangkok as well. There’s no better way to immerse yourself in the culture of a place than taking a break from sightseeing and spending some time in the kitchen.
P.S. – We did the whole class without shoes. SURPRISE.
Mary in Manhattan 
Barefoot in kitchen! LOL!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Ancien Hippie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love all of your Thailand posts! We’re going in May and booked through Affordable Asia as well, only we did the Bangkok and Phuket tour (The husband is dying to see Phi Phi Island-Where The Beach movie was filmed). I’m wondering if I should look into a cooking class in Phuket, especially since we booked two tours in Bangkok but only the island one in Phuket. Thanks for the amazing posts! The food looks fantastic! I love curry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey! Have a great trip! I would look into a cooking class in Phuket. Bangkok is so busy and I feel like the islands are where you can relax and take your time. A cooking class might take up a huge chunk of your day in Bangkok. What we did was ask around to see where the nearest cooking class was on Ko Samui – you can probably do that on Phuket unless you want to book in advance. Can’t wait to see how it goes!
LikeLike
Wow, this is such a great idea! I can’t wait until my son is old enough so we can try our own overseas cooking classes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely! It really does give you an in-depth relationship with the location.
LikeLike
I couldn’t agree more!!! Taking a cooking class really teaches you a lot about the culture!! Great idea!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Chloe! Have you taken any recently?
LikeLike
Looks like a great way to learn about another country’s cuisine! I never would have thought about taking a cooking class in another country.
LikeLiked by 1 person
[…] both at once, but they are VERY strong. Food is not a side note to the drinks, it’s very good, authentic Thai food. Order the curry puffs and chicken wings for appetizers, and then either the Drunken Noodle, Green […]
LikeLike
[…] for other foodie experiences, I did an amazing cooking class on Koh Samui. Check it […]
LikeLike
[…] via The Absolute Best Activity to do While on Vacation in Another Country — Mary in Manhattan […]
LikeLike